The Ottawa Charge are headed to the PWHL playoffs for the first time in franchise history after a thrilling 2–1 overtime win over the Toronto Sceptres. Katerina Mrázová played the hero, scoring the game-winner in extra time and punching Ottawa’s ticket to the postseason.
From the opening puck drop, both teams knew what was on the line—Toronto fighting for first place, Ottawa trying to secure their spot. Both sides came out playing it safe, sticking to tight defence and keeping everything to the outside. Ottawa fans might have been feeling uneasy as the team struggled with zone exits early on, an issue that had cost them in their recent 3–0 loss to Minnesota. The Charge adjusted, though and found their rhythm, outshooting Toronto in every period, finishing with a 25–14 shot advantage.
Toronto struck first in the second period, as Sarah Nurse finished off a pass from Renata Fast. Gwyneth Philips, making her eighth consecutive start in net for Ottawa, turned aside 13 shots and looked sharp all game. The rookie netminder wraps up her regular season as the league leader among first-years in wins (8), shutouts (2), goals-against average (2.11), and save percentage (.919).
Needing their leaders to show up in a big moment, the Charge got exactly that. Captain Brianne Jenner evened the score later in the frame, burying a feed in tight from Shiann Darkangelo and Tereza Vanišová. Ottawa improved to 13–1 on the season when Jenner finds the back of the net.
With the game still tied 1–1 after regulation, overtime brought the moment Ottawa fans had been waiting for. Emily Clark cleared the puck from deep in her own zone, sending Mrázová off with space to skate and Ronja Savolainen to her left as a passing option. Mrázová held onto the puck, maneuvering around an outstretched Maggie Connors before firing top shelf past Sceptres’ goaltender Kristen Campbell, who made 23 saves in the losing effort. It was Mrázová’s first goal since February 1st, after missing 11 games on long-term injured reserve, and it couldn’t have come at a bigger moment.
“Emily Clark made a good play to bounce the puck, and Ronja Savolainen jumped into the play to make it a two-on-one,” said Mrázová. “It was important (to have another option) but I just shot it. It was an exciting moment. A relief. I wanted to skate all the way back to Gwyneth Philips, but at the same time, the whole group was coming. I’m just so happy for the group. We worked so hard. I’m proud of everyone.”
Charge head coach Carla MacLeod echoed that pride in her postgame comments.
“The significance of the game and the moment for our group is pretty thrilling,” said MacLeod. “To see where we're at and really how we went about it today, I'm really proud of the collective effort. We didn't stop competing and didn't let any moment swing us one way or the other. We stayed true to who we are."
Now, Ottawa waits to find out who they’ll face in the semifinals. The top-seeded Montreal Victoire will make their opponent selection live on the *Jocks and Jills* podcast this Sunday. The 2025 PWHL playoffs kick off Wednesday, May 7.